Vintage firearm prices

[sandwarrior]

Has anybody noticed a HUGE uptick in old gun prices lately? I can kinda understand folks selling a mint or complete collectable piece of slightly lesser condition, but holy cow, I'm seeing more bubba crap out there that five years ago I wouldn't have paid for a complete original rifle.

In the meantime, there are all kinds of good deals out there on AR's

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Yup... We were talking about that after Tulsa and OGCA. The older stuff is insane... but can't give away black rifles... but old guns are going for serious money! In one way, it's nice to see. But when a battered Smith Model 65 Used old police revolver is asking price of $600... some of it does seem kind of silly!

So it's a good time to buy black rifles of all types! I am still looking for a few of those... like a SCAR, and an HK91 or 93. And a Semi-beltfed M60.... Hey if those prices are dropping... I'm in like Flynn!

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Makes one wonder what a/an SA Garand 75xxx serial (October, 1940) might be worth...

 

[Ledzep]

I know right? I bought my '43 SA Garand for $525, I think I could almost triple that.

I remember not long ago enfields for $85, mosins for $50-75, Russian capture K98's for $250 etc... Now it's more like $400, $200-250, and $500+ respectively. Things I've always kind of wanted if a good deal comes along seemingly keeps outpacing my budget.

 

[Basher]

I know right? I bought my '43 SA Garand for $525, I think I could almost triple that.

I remember not long ago enfields for $85, mosins for $50-75, Russian capture K98's for $250 etc... Now it's more like $400, $200-250, and $500+ respectively. Things I've always kind of wanted if a good deal comes along seemingly keeps outpacing my budget.

Mummy Enfields (still wrapped in cosmo paper) go for ridiculous money. I'd love to have one, but not for north of a grand!

 

[sandwarrior]

Mummy Enfields (still wrapped in cosmo paper) go for ridiculous money. I'd love to have one, but not for north of a grand!

I know! Stupid, right? Couldn't push the things out the door for fifty years. Now, all us "non-takers" can't afford 'em.

 

[Sooter76]

I've noticed the crazy prices on milsurps lately myself...

For whatever reason there's is a noticeable uptick in the prices being asked for milsurp rifles lately. If you've got a mint WWII-era K98K or Lee Enfield I get it, but people are out there asking $800 for bubba'd and butchered Mausers. For a short minute it looked like prices were coming down on Mausers and Lee Enfield's as surplus 8mm and .303British dried up, but that didn't last long. Don't get me wrong, there's still decent 'deals' to be found if someone is just looking to move a rifle, but mostly it's $500 and up for even trashed examples and sportarized guns. Seriously, WTF!?

I unfortunately came late and only got in on the tail end of the golden age, but at least I got examples of most of the historical rifles I wanted. I'll just have to weep over missed opportunities for the GEW98 and K98K.

 

[jbell]

No kidding! How about a Norinco SKS that sold for $99 back in the mid 90’s are now well over $400! They are very good well built reliable rifles, but 400% increase! Give me a break.

 

[ChadL]

I think some of it has to do with certain YouTube channels bringing a lot of attention to Milsurp type rifles. People watch the videos, get excited and go buy. I think it’s made the milsurp buyers pool much deeper and therefore prices have gone up. Just an observation.

 

[sandwarrior]

I think some of it has to do with certain YouTube channels bringing a lot of attention to Milsurp type rifles. People watch the videos, get excited and go buy. I think it’s made the milsurp buyers pool much deeper and therefore prices have gone up. Just an observation.

I would agree that is a driver. But, a couple years ago, people were putting this stuff online and the prices remained "affordable" I bought a late M48BO in 2014 for $225. All M48's are running well over $350 now. They've always been on youtube "look what I found" vids.

What I think it is, is for the minute, people aren't worried about getting, or having spent too much on, AR-15's. The focus is back on getting a historical piece while the getting is still good. Mauser sources have dried up, Mosin's are now dried up. All the small number of imports have also dried up. there may be millions of new ones out there, but no new ones to tap into a supply.

Also, gone are the days when you can get one (any historical piece) in decent condition. Just complete is more the norm nowadays. So, the price has jumped on incomplete and modified pieces.

 

[asbestosglove1]

i have a mummy wrapped Fazakerly No.4 that I kept for my son. He could give a crap so maybe my future grandson will have interest. I shot her two unwrapped siblings today.

 

[TonyTheTiger]

Did some research today. My modest collection that cost me very little has now at least quadrupled in value. Some of my favorites like my K31 and Swede M38 have sold in the 4 digit range lately, all the Czech/Yugo Mausers are easily above $500, Mosins have skyrocketed. Even some of my ugly ducklings like Turkish Mausers, Spanish FR8's and Steyr M95's are worth triple what I paid for them. The Enfields are past $700. The real oddballs like Hakims and MAS 36's and 49's, VZ 52's and the like are all over the board on value.
Glad I bought them when I did...

 

[sandwarrior]

Did some research today. My modest collection that cost me very little has now at least quadrupled in value. Some of my favorites like my K31 and Swede M38 have sold in the 4 digit range lately, all the Czech/Yugo Mausers are easily above $500, Mosins have skyrocketed. Even some of my ugly ducklings like Turkish Mausers, Spanish FR8's and Steyr M95's are worth triple what I paid for them. The Enfields are past $700. The real oddballs like Hakims and MAS 36's and 49's, VZ 52's and the like are all over the board on value.
Glad I bought them when I did...

Yeah. They're getting these prices not just sticking them online and asking and not getting these prices.

 

[packratt]

The one I can't figure out is the Styer M95s. They use a mandatory enbloc clip that is not readily available now that the surplus 8x56R on clips has dried up.

 

[TonyTheTiger]

The one I can't figure out is the Styer M95s. They use a mandatory enbloc clip that is not readily available now that the surplus 8x56R on clips has dried up.

Found these: https://www.buffaloarms.com/model-m-95-austrian-8x56r-8x50r-en-bloc-clip-scm95
and a whole ton of others with a quick google search. Even Amazon has them.

 

[Sooter76]

i have a mummy wrapped Fazakerly No.4 that I kept for my son. He could give a crap so maybe my future grandson will have interest. I shot her two unwrapped siblings today.

I'm jealous... I've been looking for a mummy wrapped Mk2. I won't even lie, it's with the intention of unwrapping and shooting it!

... Mosins have skyrocketed.

Mosin's I understand the least. They're ugly and with the exception of Finnish Mosin's are generally not great shooters. I still regularly think to myself I should pick one up before the prices really go insane, but I just don't like them. I'll never understand how they got the fan base they have.

 

[Sooter76]

I'm not a collector in the 'gambling on future value' sense... I buy them because I like them and want to shoot them. But due to prices, I've personally gotten to the point that I'm holding out for a mint Lee Enfield No4 MK2 or a nice K98. Because I just want them to shoot, I'd even take a Mitchell Mauser K98.

 

[TonyTheTiger]

Mosin's I understand the least. They're ugly and with the exception of Finnish Mosin's are generally not great shooters. I still regularly think to myself I should pick one up before the prices really go insane, but I just don't like them. I'll never understand how they got the fan base they have.

They're the Honda Civic of surplus. They're cheap, available everywhere, reliable, cheap to feed and no one cares when you hack one up and wreck it. But yes quite ugly. I still remember when I started collecting and they could hardly give them away with a spam can for $60. I could never live with myself if I paid more than $150 for one. My Finnish M39 on the other hand is a different story even though its the same ugly action.

 

[Ric O'shay]

WWII era pistol prices have gone off the charts. Always late to the party.

 

[Sooter76]

WWII era pistol prices have gone off the charts. Always late to the party.

The pistols never really appealed to me, onlynthe rifles... So I guess I'm lucky in that regard.

 

[Sooter76]

They're the Honda Civic of surplus. They're cheap, available everywhere, reliable, cheap to feed and no one cares when you hack one up and wreck it. But yes quite ugly. I still remember when I started collecting and they could hardly give them away with a spam can for $60. I could never live with myself if I paid more than $150 for one. My Finnish M39 on the other hand is a different story even though its the same ugly action.

Fair enough... But of all the firearms I've ever seen with a dedicated fanbase, it's the one I'll never understand the near violent defense it often gets.

 

[Ric O'shay]

Not even this?

 

[asbestosglove]

I'm jealous... I've been looking for a mummy wrapped Mk2. I won't even lie, it's with the intention of unwrapping and shooting it!



Mosin's I understand the least. They're ugly and with the exception of Finnish Mosin's are generally not great shooters. I still regularly think to myself I should pick one up before the prices really go insane, but I just don't like them. I'll never understand how they got the fan base they have.

I got the mummy wrapped Enfields for $129 each around 1990. Just shot a new and I mean new 1946 mfg, Mosin M44. Pinging steel at 500 was childs play with it. $120 around 1995. Had forgotten I had it until I was showing a friend my souvenirs recently.

 

[sandwarrior]

I know most don't understand why Mosin's are jumping in price, The thing with them was the best ones came over last, unlike most of the rest of the surplus firearms, where the best came over first. And, it was downhill after that. Getting a good one got harder.

FWIW, they shoot a lot better than American hate legend has them shooting. My dad would tell you they couldn't hit the broadside of a barn from the inside. Even though he never shot one, or really knew how to really wring out the accuracy in any gun.

Added:
I've never found any Mosin fans to get near violent when their gun gets trashed. They'll readily admit they go after ugly women because A. the success rate is higher and B. No one is going to steal them. C. They are more likely to believe you when you say you're done with the other ugly women you did the same thing with.

 

[shipereyes445]

A guy at the range got a Russian dragunov for sale at $3000, I thought that was too much. Prices are also high on GB.

 

[Sooter76]

A guy at the range got a Russian dragunov for sale at $3000, I thought that was too much. Prices are also high on GB.

Not for a real Drugunov it's not... That's actually really low!

 

[shipereyes445]

Not for a real Drugunov it's not... That's actually really low!

WHAT!!! Then 6000-7000 maybe ?

 

[Sooter76]

WHAT!!! Then 6000-7000 maybe ?

Still low... You don't see them often, but when I have it's usually closer to $10,000.

 

[shipereyes445]

Still low... You don't see them often, but when I have it's usually closer to $10,000.

Lmao I’d rather buy a scar 17 and call it a day. Or maybe building a custome sniper rifle

 

[Sooter76]

Lmao I’d rather buy a scar 17 and call it a day. Or maybe building a custome sniper rifle

It has to do with collectability and how few there are in the country. I've heard there may be as few as 100 rifles total rifles, both Russian and Chinese made, in the country. And most of those are civilian Tiger models.

 

[308Gunner]

Now if the prices of old lever guns will follow I can off load a Marlin, sure it has a small crack in the stock but it should be worth 10000 shouldn't it.

 

[rothgyr]

I managed to get a k98 in pretty decent condition from Gunnies in Orem UT a few weeks ago. Dripping in cosmoline for $400. Manufactured in 1945. Some of the lower quality ones were going for closer $300.

I feel in love with mauser models when I fired my dad's 6.5x55 carbine. I thought I'd never find a mauser k98 for under $800.

 

[TonyTheTiger]

A guy at the range got a Russian dragunov for sale at $3000, I thought that was too much. Prices are also high on GB.

That was almost certainly an RPK based look alike for that price. I used to have a Romanian PSL, I sold it back when I thought the market had topped out around $1200. Still wishing for that time machine...

 

[sandwarrior]

That was almost certainly an RPK based look alike for that price. I used to have a Romanian PSL, I sold it back when I thought the market had topped out around $1200. Still wishing for that time machine...

Fuck that time machine...my Ruby red slippers take me back to where I need to go...Yeah, I wished I'd bought or sold a ton of stuff years ago.

 

[shipereyes445]

Don’t mean to be a pain in the ass but why were very few dragunov shipped to the USA ???

 

[Sooter76]

Don’t mean to be a pain in the ass but why were very few dragunov shipped to the USA ???

It gets confusing but the short answer is sanctions and regulations. Either imposed by the US government or self-imposed by Russia.

 

[SunuvaButch]

I quit going to most gun shows locally (west virginia) because the prices in general of used gun (not just old) are insane. Blue sky m1 garlands for 1500 and savage axis uses for 500 is where I drew the line.